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That evening, Tommy and his grandfather took Fella for a walk. Earlier, Tommy had raced around the track watched by his grandfather and Dargust. Everything had gone smoothly. There was no sign of injury. Tommy was as ready for the race on Saturday as he would ever be.
As they walked down the long Spencer Road they discussed the race on Saturday.
“You did very well on your training run today?” said Jim.
“Yes,” said Tommy.
“You’re really ready?” said Jim. “I mean, up here as well?” He touched the front of his head.
Tommy smiled. “I’m ready. I’ll win OK.”
“Well don’t get over confident,” said his grandfather. “Now, tomorrow, you’re not to train at all. Have a day of rest.”
“I understand, grandfather,” said Tommy, winking at Fella.
This is nice, thought Dargust. He was happy. But then his happy thoughts changed as he thought about the bounty hunters. They’ll be here soon. They’ll find me. He whined.
His whine alerted Tommy and he stopped. “Are you OK. Fella?” he asked, bending to Dargust and petting him gently.
“Yes. I was just thinking, this is nice,” he answered.
“What?”
“Walking with you. Your town is a nice place. I could live here.”
“But you are living here,” said Tommy.
“You know what I mean?” said Dargust.
It was just then Tommy saw Murphy and a broad...shouldered man come walking along the road. He frowned. The man was shouting at the bully and suddenly hit him on the back of the head.
“Owwww! That hurt!” cried Murphy.
Suddenly the man cursed loudly and slapped him on the back of the head again, so hard that Murphy was almost thrown forward onto the ground.
“Da ... don’t!” he cried. “Don’t hit me again! I’m sorry.”
“Sorry,” snarled the man. “When I get you home you’ll be sorry all right.”
As they passed, Spud glared at Tommy. There were tears in his eyes.
Jim, Tommy and Dargust stared after them as they walked on.
“No wonder that boy’s a bully,” said Jim. “With a father like that he hasn’t much of a chance.”
As they walked on, Tommy thought about Murphy. He didn’t want to feel sorry for him, but he did.
****
Manterog looked around. The bounty hunters were all standing outside in the trees. Behind, their space craft was quickly becoming invisible.
“We’ll separate and search the outer part of town first,” he said. He smiled as he studied Morg and the others. They looked like humans. The hunters wore different T...shirts. Morg had, TAKE THAT, written across the chest of his. Each of the bounty hunters had heavily muscled arms and chests. They all wore blue jeans. Their hair was almost shoulder...length and black.
Manterog turned and pressed a small control like a TV remote. The door of the space craft closed. The leader of the bounty hunters waited until the ship was completely invisible, then he said, “Then we’ll make our way into the town. It shouldn’t take us long to find Dargust. If any of you find him, you know how to alert us. It shouldn’t take us long before we’re on our way back again. Gargusert, you move in from the north. Austerog, you from the west. Baberogey, you take the west. Morg, will come with me. We’ll move south.”
Moments later, they were heading for the edge of the trees.
****
Lying on Tommy’s bed, Dargust gave a start. The generator, that he had altered to have a built in warning system, was buzzing. He knew the bounty hunters had landed. He took the generator out and pointed it at the ceiling. Immediately a small screen appeared. On it he saw the bounty hunters moving away from Crokery Wood. He looked at Tommy, who was fast asleep. He knew there was no way he could endanger Tommy’s life. He sighed as he looked around Tommy’s bedroom. It must be nice to be human, he thought, rising and going to the window. He looked away up at Crokery Wood. It won’t be long now. He sighed.
All of a sudden he had an idea. His main, thought, as he leapt from Tommy's bedroom window... was, he couldn't allow Tommy to be put in danger. Seconds later he was racing up to the trees.
****
When he reached the wood he changed quickly, becoming the tiniest of field-mice. Looking around he raced along the ground through the trees.
It was a beautiful moonlit night as he quickly made his way past where he had landed. His senses told him the bounty hunter’s craft was up ahead. He hoped he could find it. He looked around. Their ship would be invisible, he thought. It was then he felt two stabbing pains on each side of his back. Suddenly he was rising into the air.
Twisting around, he stared up at two huge, wide, glowing eyes. An owl, he thought, quickly changing back to his original form. The owl had grabbed him to take him back to its nest, thinking it was going to have a tasty morsel to eat tonight.
A second later as he was falling through the trees Dargust changed into an owl. He was just in time to land in a small clearing. He stood up, just as the owl that had caught him hooted with fear and flew away.
Dargust looked around. Moments later, after he had changed to his original body shape, he was slipping the generator from the folds of his leathery skin. The small box buzzed with energy as he inserted one of his long nails into the side of it. He raised the generator high above his head. Thin lines of energy spread out from it, showing the outline of the bounty hunters space craft. Slowly he approached it. His senses had already told him there was no one about. Quickly he found the place where the entrance should be. Feeling all around the area with his suckers he placed the generator near the side of the door. One of his pointed, flat nails worked sideways into the buzzing generator for several seconds. A sharp screeching sound was heard, followed by the bounty hunter's space craft door opening. In seconds, Dargust was inside. He looked around before he hurried to the controls. Aware that anything he did was being recorded, he quickly examined everything. He would have to hurry. The bounty hunters could return soon. Pressing several buttons on the glowing panel he searched through the information. He quickly found what he wanted, the position of the controlling power rod ... the generator of the craft. Moments later he was slipping towards the back of the craft. Soon his nails were unscrewing a panel. He pushed it aside and examined the controls. He spotted the small rod instantly. It wasn’t much bigger than his generator. It slipped easily into his hand. He placed it inside his folded skin. In seconds he had replaced the panel. Shortly after, closing the door behind him, he was slipping back through the wood.
A minute later, disguised as Fella, he was lying in bed beside Tommy. He smiled. Now he had something with which to bargain with the bounty hunters.
The morning of the race was a warm day, with a light wind blowing from the south across the town. Jim called at the house early. He smiled as he watched his grandson tuck into a good breakfast of bacon and egg.
“You need a good breakfast,” the old man said. “Energy for the race, energy, you’ll quickly burn up.”
8
Around one o’clock, the whole family, with an invisible Fella, headed off to the school sports field that was about a quarter of a mile away. Tommy’s father carried a black duffel bag containing Tommy’s runners and shorts, a small towel and a bar of soap.
****
As they approached the sports field Tommy’s face was red with excitement. He was looking forward to the race, keyed up to do his best.
As they walked through the big aluminum gates, Tommy spotted Murphy. His father was with him. The burly man was unshaven. He was pushing his son on the back and hissing angrily at him.
****
At quarter to two the runners in the three thousand meters headed for the changing rooms to get ready. Tommy was just coming around the corner of the building when he saw Spud and his father. Mr. Murphy had his hands on his son’s shoulders and was forcing him hard against the changing room wall. Quickly Tommy pulled back. Standing around the corner he listened to their conversation.
“You’d better win this race, boy,” Tommy heard Murphy’s father snarl. “I don’t want you to turn out to be a loser like me.”
“I’ll do my best, da,” grunted Spud, trying in vain to loosen the grip on his shoulders.
Suddenly Mr. Murphy slapped his son hard on the side of his face. “You’ll do more than your best, boy!” he snapped. “You’ll win this race! You hear me, you’ll win, you’d better, or by God if you don’t I’ll, “do my best” for you. I’ll beat the living daylights outta you if you lose. You hear me? You hear me, boy?”
“Yes, yes, Da!” cried Spud.
“Right,” said his father. “Now get in there and change. And remember, I’ll be watching.” With that the big man swung away. As he passed Tommy, he glared at him and pushed him aside.
Shortly, all the boys taking part in the race were inside getting changed. As he was pulling on his runners Tommy looked across at Spud. The bully’s face was pale as he tied on his left runner. Tommy now thought about all the pressure that Spud was under. He tried to understand how the bully felt. If he didn’t win the race his father would beat him.
Five minutes later one of the teachers came in to tell all the runners to hurry to the racetrack.
****
As they made their way to the starting area, Murphy sidled up to Tommy and thumped him in the arm. “I’ll leave you miles behind, Ginger Bap,” he hissed out of the side of his mouth. Then he pushed Tommy aside and hurried outside.
****
“Come on, Tommy!” yelled his grandfather, as the runners all stood ready, poised and waiting for the starting pistol to go off.
Tommy glanced towards Mr. Murphy. He was standing near the front of the crowd almost beside his grandfather. He saw Spud look at his father. The big man raised his fist. The threat was obvious.
“Ready,” shouted the teacher, raising the starting pistol.
“Crack!”
To loud cheering, the runners took off. Pacing himself beside Murphy, Tommy watched as some of the inexperienced runners raced to the front. He knew they would never be able to keep up the pace. Tommy, Murphy and two other boys were last.
“Come on, boy!” he heard Murphy’s father shout. “Get up there!”
Murphy increased his speed and ran to catch up with the front runners.
Unable to stop himself, Tommy shouted, “Spud, pace yourself! You’ll tire yourself out!”
Murphy frowned.
“Come on, boy!” roared his father, as the runners came around for the second lap.
Murphy slowed and allowed Tommy and the back runners to catch up with him.
By the fourth lap, Tommy, Murphy and three other boys were bunched together in the lead.
“Go on, Tommy!” shouted Jim. “Show them a clean pair of heels.”
As the runners passed, Dargust caught Tommy’s thoughts. He whined, the sound making Kathleen look around.
On the eighth lap, Tommy, Murphy and another boy were well clear of the field. Tommy was feeling comfortable and knew he had the strength for the next two laps. He glanced at Murphy. He could see the bully was struggling.
As they raced around on the last lap but one, Tommy took the lead. Murphy was second. The other boy had dropped back.
Coming into the tenth lap the teacher held the starting pistol high and shouted, “Last lap!”
Immediately, Tommy took off. He glanced back. Murphy’s arms were flailing about. He was beaten. The face of Spud’s angry father came to Tommy and all of a sudden he made up his mind.
“What’s he doing?” hissed Jim.
“Murphy’s catching him,” exclaimed Bob. “Come on, Tommy! Come on!”
“Come on, boy!” shouted Murphy’s father. “Don’t let me down! Come on!”
Murphy knew he was beaten as they raced for the winning post that was about a hundred meters ahead. But to his surprise Tommy slowed and almost crying out with relief he ran up beside him.
“Go on, Spud,” he heard Tommy hiss. “Go on.”
With the sound of his father screaming, “Run boy! Run!” Murphy raced for the post with Tommy just at his heels. Everyone cheered as Murphy raced over the line. He had won.
Bending over and breathing hard, Tommy watched as Murphy’s father grabbed his son and held him in his arms. “You won!” he was shouting. “My boy won! He won!” With his face blazing with pride he looked around at everyone. “My boy won.”
As Tommy’s family gathered around him, congratulating him on coming second, Murphy glanced over. He knew Tommy had thrown the race. He had allowed him to win.
****
Later, at the prize giving he joined Tommy on the small podium the sports teacher had set up. As some of the families took photographs Tommy smiled. He looked at his grandfather. The old man was obviously disappointed. I’ll explain later, Tommy thought, or maybe I won’t.
He smiled as Spud held the cup high. The bully slowly lowered it as he looked at Tommy. He knew it should have been Tommy who had been awarded the winner’s cup. He frowned. Just then his father came pushing through the crowd to reach and shake his hand.
“Well done, son,” said Mister Murphy smiling. Spud stared at his father. Was that really a tear in his father’s eye? He glanced across at Tommy who was surrounded by his family. Tommy was smiling. The bully frowned. Why is he so happy I beat him? He let me win. Why?
After the final race everyone headed home.
****
By then Manterog and the other bounty hunters had returned to their ship. It didn’t take the leader of the bounty hunters long to realize Dargust had been inside his ship. Switching on the control panel he checked everything. A blinking warning light caught his attention. “No!” he shouted. The others stared at him as he ran to the panel and pulled it off. “It’s gone,” he cursed.
****
Minutes later, the bounty hunters were discussing their predicament. They knew they would be stuck on earth forever if they didn’t get their power unit back. Dargust had outwitted them.
“We have to find him!” shouted Manterog.
“He’ll have hidden the unit well,” said Morg, glancing at the others.
Suddenly, with a terrifying growl, Manterog punched Morg in the face. The bigger bounty hunter flew back hard against the control panel.
“Don’t you think I know that!” screamed Manterog. He glared at the others. “What are you all looking at? Get out and find him! Find him!”
Seconds later all the bounty hunters were making their way through the trees. As they headed to the edge of the woods, Manterog worried. This won’t be as easy as I thought. If Dargust destroys the power unit we’ll be stranded here for ... maybe ... eons.
****
“You could easily have won,” exclaimed Tommy’s grandfather as they strolled through the park. “What happened?”
Tommy looked down at the ground. He knew his grandfather was angry. Slowly he explained. At the end of his explanation he said, “Winning the race wasn’t that important really, Granda Jim. It was beating Spud. And in the end, that didn’t matter either.”
Jim studied his grandson. He couldn’t help being proud of him. Tommy had thrown the race because he felt sorry for the bully.
Dargust, who was walking between them, shook his head. “Humans are hard to understand,” he said.
Tommy and his grandfather laughed.
By then they were approaching the summer seat near the race track. As they walked towards it, Dargust looked ahead. He gave a start. Two of the bounty hunters were coming towards them. The hair bristled along his back. If he stayed calm the bounty hunters wouldn’t recognize him. He hoped.
As they passed, one of the bounty hunters glanced at Tommy and his grandfather then walked on. As they did one of the hunters looked back at Dargust.
It was at least two minutes before Dargust took a relieved breath. He decided not to tell Tommy or Jim about the bounty hunters being so near. He didn’t want to alarm them.
****
Twenty minutes later, they were on their way back. As they rested on the summer seat Dargust did tell Tommy and his grandfather about the bounty hunters.
“Those two? The guys with the muscles?” exclaimed Tommy.
“Yes. They have disguised themselves as earthlings now. So watch out.”
Tommy looked at his grandfather.
“Dargust, were we in danger, there ... when the bounty hunters walked past? I mean, if they had recognized you would we, Tommy, have been in danger?”
Dargust sighed. “Yes. They would have tried to kill me. You might have been hurt ... or killed in the battle.”
Tommy glanced at his grandfather. He could see he was concerned. “Granda Jim, we ... we’re O.K.”
“Yes, we are, Tommy, but Dargust knows we could have been hurt, both of us ... or killed.”
As they were speaking they failed to notice an old man and woman walking towards them.
The old woman gave a start when she saw Dargust, with his head stretched high as he spoke to Tommy and his grandfather.
“I should go,” said Dargust quietly.
“No,” exclaimed Tommy. “No.” He looked at his grandfather. “Granda Jim ... we’ll be OK. We will,” he said.
“Tommy, I ... I don’t know. Dargust must realize the danger you are in.”
“I do,” said Dargust. “And I was thinking...”
It was just then he noticed the two old people. The woman was staring at him. She had obviously heard him speak. The old man was frowning.
Tommy and his grandfather smiled at the old couple.
“Hello Mrs. Cooper,” said Jim. “How are you, Joe.”
“Hello Jim,” said Joe. He nodded to Tommy. “Nice evening.”
“Yes, it is,” said Jim.
“Well, good evening,” said Joe, frowning as his wife pulled at his arm.
Tommy, Jim and Dargust looked after the old couple.
About twenty meters on Mrs. Cooper turned. She stared back at Dargust for a second or two then walked on.
“She heard me speak,” said Dargust.
“Old Mrs. Cooper?” said Jim. He smiled. “Ach, don’t worry about her. Who would believe her anyway?” He rose. “Come on, let’s go home. We’ll discuss all this there.”
****
On the way home Dargust had made up his mind. He knew he had to leave. He couldn’t put Tommy or his grandfather in danger. He knew how ferocious and cruel the bounty hunters were. Yes, he thought, I’ll stay with Tommy tonight and go in the morning.
****
Meanwhile, the two bounty hunters, Austerog and Gargusert, who had passed them earlier in the park, were just about to pass the Waterside Health Center when a middle...aged man, holding a handkerchief to his face, came hurrying out. As the hunters passed he suddenly sneezed all over them. Then with a gurgled, “Sorry...” and another stifled sneeze, he hurried away.